Indian Wells: Sabalenka Praises Mboko as 'Future Grand Slam Champion'
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka defeated Victoria Mboko 7-6(0), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals.Aryna Sabalenka lauded Mboko's aggressive play and fighting spirit, predicting a bright future for the Canadian teen.
Canadian teen Victoria Mboko pushed Sabalenka to the limit before falling 7-6(0), 6-4 in the quarterfinals...
Iga Swiatek's Indian Wells campaign came to an end as she fell to Elina Svitolina 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. The Polish star, a two-time champion and six-time Grand Slam winner, struggled with her serve, committing eight double faults.
Svitolina, ranked ninth, capitalized on Swiatek's mistakes, taking control of the match with her aggressive play. Swiatek's loss marks her fifth consecutive defeat against top-10 opponents, raising concerns about her form.
In other quarterfinal action, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina advanced to the semifinals, setting up exciting matchups against Linda Noskova and Elina Svitolina, respectively.
Svitolina Advances to Indian Wells Semi-Finals
Elina Svitolina's experience paid off as she seized early opportunities and held her nerve in a tense third set, securing her spot in the Indian Wells semi-finals for the second time, and first since 2019. She broke through in the final frame, winning the last three games to take the match against Iga Swiatek 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Svitolina into the Semis 💪@ElinaSvitolina is back into the IW semfinals for the first time since 2019, aftear defeating Swiatek in a three set battle!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/XBw2ZCYVWi
— wta (@WTA) March 13, 2026
Svitolina's aggressive play and impressive serving, with 81% of her first serves in, proved too much for Swiatek, who struggled with eight double faults. This marks Svitolina's 11th career win against top-2 players, and her first such triumph since defeating Swiatek at Wimbledon in 2023.
“I wouldn't say it was the perfect match, but I could stay in the match and fight and find a way after losing second set,” Svitolina said.
“There is no champion who is waiting for the mistakes, and you have to really try to set up yourself in a good position to attack,” she added. “I was trying to really open up the court and try to take the advantage, because Iga is such an aggressive player, and she moves really well. So if you don't take the opportunity, she's going to take it.”
Svitolina's Thrilling Win Sends Her to Semi-Finals
Elina Svitolina capped off her impressive win against Iga Swiatek with style, sealing the match 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 with an ace and a forehand volley. The 31-year-old Ukrainian laughed off her age, joking “You make me feel a bit old with that stat,” after learning it's her first top-2 win since 2023.
Svitolina's comeback story continues to inspire, having returned to the top 10 in the world rankings in February for the first time since 2021 and since becoming a mother. Her next challenge is Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals, a match that promises to be a thriller.
Elina Svitolina's win over Iga Swiatek was a notable one, marking her second victory over the Polish star in six meetings and her first since 2023. This win continues Svitolina's impressive run in 2026, with titles in Auckland and a runner-up finish in Dubai.
Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, faced another early exit, losing in the quarterfinals for the third time this year, following similar exits at the Australian Open and Doha. This disappointing run has raised concerns about Swiatek's form, with fans and analysts alike questioning her struggles against top opponents.
Elina Svitolina wrapped up her impressive win against Iga Swiatek with a flourish, breaking Swiatek's serve to take a 5-4 lead and then sealing the match with an ace and a forehand volley. This thrilling victory marks Svitolina's second win over Swiatek in six meetings and her first since 2023.
Svitolina's momentum continues as she advances to the semi-finals, where she'll face 2023 Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina. Rybakina secured her spot with a 6-1, 7-6 (4) win over Jessica Pegula, who was defeated by Rybakina in the Melbourne semi-finals.
Elena Rybakina staged a stunning comeback, recovering from a 4-1 deficit in the second set to defeat Jessica Pegula 6-1, 7-6(4) in the Indian Wells quarterfinals, ending Pegula's eight-match winning streak. Rybakina's impressive serving display, particularly in the tiebreaker, was crucial in securing the win.
This victory marks Rybakina's third win over Pegula in their last four encounters, including their recent Australian Open semifinal match. With this win, Rybakina advances to the semifinals, where she will face Elina Svitolina.
Sabalenka Advances to Indian Wells Semi-Finals
World number one Aryna Sabalenka kept her bid for a first Indian Wells title on track, holding off Canadian teen Victoria Mboko 7-6 (0), 6-4 to reach the semi-finals on Thursday. Sabalenka had beaten Mboko in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January in a match the 19-year-old called “an eye-opener.”
Sabalenka praised Mboko's improvement, saying “She is definitely a future Grand Slam champion... It's incredible to see how brave these young girls are these days.” The Belarusian star will next face 14th-ranked Czech Linda Noskova, who ended Australian qualifier Talia Gibson's impressive run.
Victoria Mboko, ranked 10th, pushed world number one Aryna Sabalenka to the limit in the opening set, going toe-to-toe with the big-hitting Belarusian before Sabalenka pulled away in the tiebreaker. Mboko regrouped admirably, starting the second set with a confident service hold, setting the tone for a competitive match.
Despite Mboko's strong start to the second set, Sabalenka's experience ultimately shone through, securing her spot in the semi-finals. The Canadian teen's improvement is undeniable, having previously called her Australian Open match against Sabalenka “an eye-opener.”
Aryna Sabalenka finally broke through Victoria Mboko's serve on her seventh attempt, securing a 3-2 lead and fending off two break points in the eighth game to seal her win. This impressive display of skill and determination sent Sabalenka into the Indian Wells semi-finals, where she'll face Linda Noskova.
Aryna Sabalenka is looking to break her California Masters 1000 final curse, having come up empty in her previous trips to the final in 2023 and 2025. She'll face 14th-ranked Czech Linda Noskova, who ended Australian qualifier Talia Gibson's dream run with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win.
Sabalenka praised Victoria Mboko's improvement since their Australian Open meeting, showcasing her growing confidence. With a strong run at Indian Wells, Sabalenka aims to claim her first title in California.
“It was a tough battle today,” Sabalenka said. “Super happy with the performance. Happy the level I played on those key moments in each set.”
Victoria Mboko acknowledged Aryna Sabalenka's praise, but humbly noted there's still room for improvement in her game. The Canadian teen's growth is evident, and it'll be exciting to see her continue to develop
“It's never easy to play the world number one,” she said. “I had a lot of chances in the first set ... but she was playing really well, especially on pressure points. I've got to give credit to her there.
“I feel like I was maybe one or two points away from changing how the first set would have went ... that's something I could work on for the next time.”
Linda Noskova seemed poised for a straightforward win over Talia Gibson, especially after Gibson's impressive fourth-round victory over seventh-ranked Jasmine Paolini. However, Gibson had a stunning comeback, breaking Noskova's serve to take the lead in the second set and forcing a deciding set. Despite Gibson's surge, Noskova regained control and secured her spot in the semi-finals.
Noskova's path to the semi-finals was marked by her impressive serving, with 13 aces, although she also had 10 double faults. Gibson, on the other hand, showed remarkable resilience, pushing Noskova to three sets. This victory marks Noskova's 11th WTA semi-final appearance, setting her up for a clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
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